Nectarine tree (Diamond Ray)

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a nectarine tree and more particularly to a new and distinct variety broadly characterized by a large size, vigorous, hardy, productive and regular bearing tree. The fruit matures under the ecological conditions described approximately the first week in July, with first picking on Jul. 1, 1983. The fruit is uniformly large in size, excellent in flavor, attractively globose in shape, clingstone in type, very firm in texture, and full red in skin color. The variety was developed as a hybridized seedling from Red Diamond (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,165), as the selected seed parent, and an unnamed seedling as the selected pollen parent.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

In a continuing effort to improve the quality of shipping fruits, we,the inventors, typically hybridize a large number of nectarine, peach,plum, apricot, and cherry seedlings each year. The present inventionrelates to a new and distinct variety of nectarine tree, which has beendenominated varietally as "Diamond Ray". The present variety washybridized by us in 1986, and the resulting seedling was planted in acultivated area of our experimental orchard at Bradford Farms near LeGrand, Calif. in Merced County (San Joaquin Valley). Specifically, thehybridized seedling was originated by using Red Diamond (U.S. Plant Pat.No. 3,165) as the selected seed parent and an unnamed seedling as theselected pollen parent. Subsequent to origination of the present varietyof nectarine tree, we asexually reproduced it by budding and grafting,and such reproduction of plant and fruit characteristics were true tothe original plant in all respects.

The present variety most nearly resembles the Summer Bright (U.S. PlantPat. No. 7,049) by producing fruit that is full red in skin color, sweetand flavorful in taste, clingstone in type, and extremely firm intexture, but is distinguished therefrom and an improvement thereon byproducing fruit that ripens approximately twelve days earlier and hassubstantially less red streaking in the flesh.

The present variety is similar to its selected seed parent, Red Diamond(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,165), in fruit appearance by being a full redcolored nectarine with excellent firmness, but is distinguishedtherefrom by ripening seven days later and by being a clingstone insteadof a freestone.

DRAWING

The accompanying photograph exhibits four whole fruits positioned todisplay the characteristics of the skin color and form, a sectioned halffruit divided transverse to the suture plane to reveal the flesh andstone, and representative leaves.

POMOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Referring now more specifically to the pomological characteristics ofthis new and distinct variety of nectarine tree, the following has beenobserved under the ecological conditions prevailing near Le Grand,Merced County (San Joaquin Valley), Calif., and was developed at thestate of hard eating ripe on Jul. 7, 1993. All major color codedesignations are by reference to the Inter-Society Color Council,National Bureau of Standards. Common color names are also usedoccasionally.

TREE

Size: Large.

Vigor: Vigorous.

Growth: Spreading and dense.

Form: Vase formed.

Hardiness: Hardy.

Production: Very productive.

Bearing: Regular bearer.

Trunk:

Size.--Medium.

Texture.--Medium.

Bark Color.--Brownish gray [64. brGy].

Lenticels.--Numerous. Color: Light brown [57. 1.Br]. Average size: 1/4"[6.4 mm.].

Branches:

Size.--Medium.

Texture.--Medium.

Color.--1st Year Wood Topside: Light grayish red [18. 1.gy.R]. 1st YearWood Underside: Brilliant yellow green [116. brill.YG]. Older Wood:Grayish brown [61. gy.Br].

Lenticels.--Numerous, small.

Leaves:

Size.--Large. Average length: 53/4" [146.1 mm.]. Average width: 1 11/16"[42.9 mm.].

Thickness.--Medium.

Form.--Elliptical.

Apex.--Acuminate.

Base.--Acute.

Surface.--Smooth.

Color.--Dorsal Surface: Moderate olive green [125. m.OlG]. VentralSurface: Moderate yellow green [120. m.YG].

Margin.--Finely serrate.

Venation.--Pinnately net veined.

Petiole.--Average length: 3/8" [9.5 mm.]. Average thickness: 1/16" [1.6mm.]. Color: Moderate yellow green [120. m.YG].

Stipules.--Numerous. Average length: 5/32" 4.0 mm.].

Glands.--Average number: Mostly 2 per leaf. Position: Mostly oppositelypositioned on petiole and base of blade. Size: Medium. Form: Reniform.Color: Brilliant yellow green [116. brill.YG].

Flower buds:

Hardiness.--Hardy.

Size.--Medium.

Length.--Medium.

Form.--Free.

Surface.--Pubescent.

Flowers:

Blooming period.--Medium as compared with other varieties.

Size.--Large.

Color.--Light pink [4. 1.Pk].

FRUIT

Maturity when described: Hard but eating ripe, Jul. 7, 1993.

Date of first picking: Jul. 1, 1993.

Date of last picking: Jul. 13, 1993.

Size: Uniform, large.

Average diameter axially.--25/8" [66.7 mm.].

Average transversely in suture plane.--27/8" [73.0 mm.].

Form: Uniform, symmetrical, globose, but compressed transversely.

Longitudinal section form.--Round.

Transverse section through diameter.--Round with slight protrusionsalong suture.

Suture: An inconspicuous shallow line extending from the base toslightly beyond the apex, with a slight depression on both sides of thepistil point.

Ventral surface: Rounded, lipped on both sides toward the apex.

Lips: Slightly unequal.

Cavity: Flaring, circular, suture showing on both sides.

Depth.--1/2" [12.7 mm.].

Breadth.--1" [25.4 mm.].

Base: Truncate.

Apex: Rounded.

Pistil point: Negligible in length, completely depressed within thesuture.

Stem: Medium.

Average length.--3/8" [9.5 mm.].

Average width.--3/16" [4.8 mm.].

Skin:

Thickness.--Medium.

Texture.--Medium.

Tenacity.--Tenacious to flesh.

Tendency to crack.--None observed as of yet.

Color.--Moderate red [15. m.R] to very deep red [14. v.deep R] over theentire surface with some brilliant orange yellow [67. brill.OY]freckling, mostly towards the apex.

Flesh:

Color.--Brilliant yellow [83. brill.Y] with very little moderate red[15. m.R] flecking.

Amygdalin.--Scarce.

Juice.--Abundant, rich.

Texture.--Very firm, crisp.

Fibers.--Abundant, fine, tender.

Ripens.--Evenly.

Flavor.--Sweet, with moderate acid.

Aroma.--Moderate.

Eating quality.--Very best.

STONE

Type: Clingstone.

Form: Oval.

Base: Straight.

Apex: Acute.

Sides: Equal.

Surface: Irregularly furrowed toward the apex and pitted toward thebase.

Ridges: Jagged toward the base.

Color: Strong brown [55. s.Br].

Pit wall: 7/32" [5.6 mm.] thick.

Tendency to split: Very slight.

Kernel:

Form.--Oval.

Taste.--Sweet.

Viable.--Yes.

Average width.--1/2" [12.7 mm.].

Average length.--3/4" [19.1 mm.].

Color.--Brilliant yellow [83. brill.Y] when first cracked.

Pellicle color.--Grayish yellow [90. gy.Y].

Amygdalin.--Abundant.

USE

Market: Fresh and long distance shipping.

Keeping quality: Excellent.

Shipping quality: Excellent.

Resistance to insects: No unusual susceptibilities noted.

Resistance to diseases: No unusual susceptibilities noted.

Although the new variety of nectarine tree possesses the describedcharacteristics under the ecological conditions at Le Grand, Calif., inthe central part of the San Joaquin Valley, it is to be expected thatvariations in these characteristics may occur when farmed in areas withdifferent climatic conditions, different soil types, and/or varyingcultural practices.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of nectarine tree, substantiallyas illustrated and described, which is most similar to the Summer Brightnectarine (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,049), by producing clingstone fruitthat is full red in skin color, sweet and flavorful in taste, andextremely firm in texture, but is distinguished therefrom and animprovement thereon by having a large blossom instead of small and byproducing fruit that ripens approximately twelve days earlier and hassubstantially less red streaking in the flesh.